Cooling apparatus for continuous casting wheel

ABSTRACT

A U-shaped, multi-compartment casing surrounds a grooved rim of a rotating casting wheel which cooperates with a metal belt to define a continuous casting cavity on the rim periphery with the compartments subjected to a continuous flow of cooling fluid.

United States Patent Petit 1 Mar. 21, 1972 [54] COOLING APPARATUS FOR '[561 References Cited' CONTINUOUS CASTING WHEEL 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,279,000 10/1966 Cofer el al. 164/283 x [73] Assignee: Societe Nouvelle Spidem, Paris, France 3,346,038 /1 f P lZi---- ----l 4/233 X Filed: sept- 1969 3,464,484 9/1969 Bray l64/278 I21 App]. N0.: 859,720 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John E. Roethel [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A1t0meySughrue, Rothwell, Mlon, Zmn & Macpeak Sept. 25, I968 France ..167603 [57] ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl n 164/278 164/283 A U-shaped, multi-compartment casing surrounds a grooved 511 111 C1 jI. I:.2 :I. :.T.52111l/06 B2 2d 11 12 rim mating wheel which Werates 3 58 Field 61 Search .l164/278 283 s7 89 define a casting cavity on the rim Periphery with the compartments subjected to a continuous flow of cooling fluid.

Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 2e f 26 3 Q 1 23 26J 2 47 F%E/ 50 3| 4 s 3 s 4 A w rl Patented March 21, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented March 21, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 COOLING APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING WHEEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to continuous metal casting wherein molten metal is applied to a grooved rim of a continuously rotating wheel and, more particularly, to means for effectively cooling of the grooved rim during rotation of the same 2. Description of the Prior Art In the continuous casting of metals, it is known to use a mold in the form of a continuously rotating wheel having a grooved rim with the groove closed over on a part of its periphery by means of a metal belt which rotates with the wheel. This type of apparatus is disclosed in French Pat. No.

radial partitions, with each of the compartments thus obtained being supplied with cooling fluid under pressure more or less directly from a general fluid supply header arranged in the vicinity of the casting wheel.

Orifices formedin the wall of the casings and facing towards the casting wheel enable the fluid to enter within the central 1,575,686 assigned to the common assignee. In such an apparatus, the molten metal is poured at a particular point on the rotating mold, the point being situated substantially at the place where the metal belt comes into contact with the wheel, following movement thereof.

In the part of the circle bounded on the one hand by the mold and on the other hand by the portion of the belt enclosing the same, the molten metal gradually cools until it reaches the solid state not far from the point where, again in the direction of its movement, the metal belt departs from the mold.

The product thus formed is immediately taken up in order that it may be directed through a number of guides into machines which are provided for the purpose of finishing the product by shaping the same. Apparatus of this type has inherent difficulties in the cooling of the product, especially when the product being produced has certain characteristics. In fact, it is necessary to control not only the grain size of the metal, but also the way in which the crystals of the metal are distributed within the product cross section, the method and speed of solidification of the impurities contained in the metal, etc.

Quite apart from this, the need to continually improve the output of the apparatus necessitates higher and higher rotational speeds for the mold and necessarily results in increasing the cost of the apparatus used in the product of these products. The cooling which is carried out in the known installations, which use natural or forced cooling by sprinkling or by jets, is not very satisfactory and it is virtually impossible to control effectively the various factors which come into play in the operation of the apparatus.

More particularly, it has been found that in cases where cooling fluid is sprayed onto the bars which must be cooled, the fluid rebounds from the wall and, at the same time, inclusions of vapor in the jet prevents contact between the fluid and the wall to be cooled from being both suitably established, and maintained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a cooling apparatus to be added to he casting wheel of the casting or mold assembly which apparatus makes it possible on the one hand to obviate the disadvantages outlined above and, on the other hand, to improve the efficiency of the installation and, consequently, its productivity. The invention further makes it possible to reduce the cost of the mold and to lighten its weight. According to the invention, the casting wheel, instead of being made in one piece, comprises a rim which is provided at its periphery with a casting groove which groove can be of substantially trapezoidal form, in its medium plane, the rim is of sufficient width to be capable of being conveniently fixed on a central hub against which it is then held by a circular bearing plate clamped against the hub by bolts or the like.

According to another feature of the invention, there are arranged about the rim of the casting wheel, a succession of casings which, on three sides, enclose the rim and in which a forced circulation of cooling fluid is established. Each of the casings may be compartmented longitudinally by means of compartment which is bounded by the partitions and in which the rim of the casting wheel rotates, in such a manner as to effect the intensive and uniform cooling of the wheel. The rim itself comprises, on its lateral faces, substantially concentric ribs, the purpose of which is to increase the contact surface between the rim and the fluid. The cooling fluid flows out freely through the interstices provided for this purpose between the various casings, which permits continuous flow of cooling fluid in the appropriate sense.

Between the general fluid header and each casing, or, if necessary, each group of compartments which are provided with a common supply, there are arranged on the fluid inlet condits, flow regulating elements. For example, the flow regulating elements may comprise manually operated valves or electromagnetic valves in cases where it may be desired to automate the equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a conventional continuous casting installation.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view on a larger scale of a casting wheel equipped with the cooling apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a radial section of the casting apparatus of FIG. 2 taken about lines 11-.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the figures which are described hereinafter, the same reference numerals designate the same parts. FIG. 1 is a conventional casting installation but it isalso assumed to be one which readily comprises the improvements made by the invention and described in detail hereinafter. Referring to FIG. I, the frame of the equipment is indicated at l and supports'a casting wheel 2 for rotation about the wheel axis. A belt 3 closes the peripheral groove carried by the wheel with the belt being tensioned by means of idler pulley 4. Point 5 is that point on the casting wheel at which the molten metal is introduced into the mold, for example by means of a spout (not shown). Point 6, on the other hand, corresponds substantially to the place where the product, once solidified, issues from the mold and is conducted through regulatable guides 8 and 9 to the inlet of the machine where the product is to be finish shaped. It is during the travel between points 5 and 6 that the product which is introduced at 5 in a liquid state gradually solidifies.

Arrangements are also made to reduce the temperature of the product at 6 such that, when it reaches 7, the product is still, despite the loss of heat which it has undergone on the way, at a sufficient temperature to be subjected under the desired conditions to the subsequent treatment through which it is to pass.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the rim 2 acts in conjunction with belt 3 to form a mold. The rim is substantially Y- shaped in cross section with an annular base and a pair of spaced flanges extending substantially radially outwardly therefrom. A peripheral groove 10 is thus formed on the rim of the mold, the rim 2 being carried on the periphery of hub 11, the circular bearing plate 13 holding the rim in place by means of connecting bolts 15. Straps l2 and 14 are coupled to the hub 11 and carrying plate 13, respectively, the straps serving to hold the casting rim at a good position. Three casings 20, 21, and 22 surround the rim 2 at both sides and at the external periphery of the rim. Radial partitions 23, 24 and 25 are carried within the casing to form compartments of relatively small capacity. Apertures 26 are carried by the internal walls of the casings 20, 21, and 22 to allow the interior of the easings to communicate with the enclosed space 47in which the rim 2 rotates.

FIG. 2 illustrates the sealing-type transverse partitions such nected by piping 45 to a source of cooling fluid (not shown).

Starting from the main header 44, secondary headers such as 27, prolonged by fixed radial junctions, as at 28, or fixed junctions 29 and 30, terminate at the various casings which in turn may be interconnected. A flexible connection 31 terminates at each side in a removable connector as at 32 and 33. Junctions of the various forms, as at 34 and 35, are also shown which may be equipped with removable connectors 36.

Additional secondary headers 37, 38 and 39 also supply compartments of the casings according to the present invention. Regulating valves 40, 41, 42, and 43 are arranged on the secondary headers which supply the various compartments of the casings according to the present invention, the valves making it possible to regulate, optionally, the flow of cooling fluid admitted into each sealing-type compartment, so as to bring the temperature of the compartment to a desired value. The cooling fluid also passes through the spaces 46 and 48 such that the fluid washes abundantly along the ribs of the casting rim 2. Appropriately, a receptacle 49 is placed below the casting wheel for the purpose of collecting the cooling fluid issuing from the various casings. The casings are fixed to supports in various known ways, for example, by fitting a number of headed studs 50 to the casings in slots arranged for this purpose on longitudinal supports which may be, for example, angle members.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuous casting assembly comprising: a casting wheel having a rim that is substantially Y-shaped in cross section with an annular base and a pair of spaced annular rim flanges extending substantially radially outwardly from the base to define a peripheral casting groove, a belt applied to the outer ends of the rim flanges to close the groove, and a cooling apparatus for the casting wheel, said cooling apparatus comprising: an assembly of casings defining partitioned companments of concentric form relative to said casting wheel rim, said casings substantially enclosing the outer periphery and sides of the portion of said rim to which said belt is applied, and means for circulating cooling fluid within said casings in inward directions toward the outer periphery of said rim portion and the surrounding belt and toward the sides of said rim portion, whereby to uniformly cool said rim portion and the surrounding belt to effectively cool the cast article in said casting groove. I

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casings comprise inner walls which face the outer periphery and sides of said rim portion, each of said walls having at least one orifice for directing cooling fluid from said casings and towards said rim.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing compartments are separated by radial partitions, and means are provided for independently supplying cooling fluid to each of said casing compartments.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sides of the rim comprise a plurality of ribs on the outer surface thereof so as to increase the contact surface between the rim and the cooling fluid impinging upon the same.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a general header for directing cooling fluid to each of said casings, supply branch conduits fluid coupling said general header to respective casing compartments, and means carried by each supply branch conduit for selectively regulating the fluid flow rate passing therethrough. 

1. A continuous casting assembly comprising: a casting wheel having a rim that is substantially Y-shaped in cross section with an annular base and a pair of spaced annular rim flanges extending substantially radially outwardly from the base to define a peripheral casting groove, a belt applied to the outer ends of the rim flanges to close the groove, and a cooling apparatus for the casting wheel, said cooling apparatus comprising: an assembly of casings defining partitioned compartments of concentric form relative to said casting wheel rim, said casings substantially enclosing the outer periphery and sides of the portion of said rim to which said belt is applied, and means for circulating cooling fluid within said casings in inward directions toward the outer periphery of said rim portion and the surrounding belt and toward the sides of said rim portion, whereby to uniformly cool said rim portion and the surrounding belt to effectively cool the cast article in said casting groove.
 2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casings comprise inner walls which face the outer periphery and sides of said rim portion, each of said walls having at least one orifice for directing cooling fluid from said casings and towards said rim.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing compartments are separated by radial partitions, and means are provided for independently supplying cooling fluid to each of said casing compartments.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sides of the rim comprise a plurality of ribs on the oUter surface thereof so as to increase the contact surface between the rim and the cooling fluid impinging upon the same.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a general header for directing cooling fluid to each of said casings, supply branch conduits fluid coupling said general header to respective casing compartments, and means carried by each supply branch conduit for selectively regulating the fluid flow rate passing therethrough. 